If you’re looking to gift a bottle of booze this Christmas, consider choosing an Irish brand — or one with a strong Irish connection.
Our whiskey industry has never been so vibrant, and today’s Foxes Bow Whiskey recommendation would make a fun introduction to the scene. Finished in a mix of oloroso sherry and rye whisky casks to bring sweet and spicy notes respectively, this garnered Gold in the ‘Best Blended Whiskey — No Age Statement’ category at the Irish Whiskey Awards 2022 and is a well-priced, approachable, versatile drop. Created by Great Northern Distillery for Limerick-based Alt Liquor Co, it is the first of a series that targets a ‘new wave of whiskey drinkers’ with approachable flavours, contemporary branding and colourful artwork from Irish artist John Slade.
Equally upbeat is the current Founder Edition branding of Hennessy VS Cognac. Hennessy commissioned Irish artists Maser and Conor Harrington to mark the 300th birthday of Richard Hennessy, the Corkonian founder of one of Cognac’s most iconic houses. Mixed with ginger ale and fresh lime, sipped straight or in a festive French coffee, the combination of a legacy brand in a bold design makes it a versatile gift.
One of my favourite discoveries this year comes from Mourne Dew Distillery, established in 2017 by former barrister and chartered accountant Donal Farrell, whose great-grandfather and grandfather were poitín and whiskey distillers. Farrell was inspired by a legal case in which forensic scientists used cold distillation to extract DNA as delicately as possible. He applies a similarly gentle process to ingredients like roasted hazelnuts (as in today’s Bottle of the Week), freshly squeezed lemons (in the excellent Mourne Dew Lemon Liqueur) and for the brand’s range of vodka, poitín and gin, all vacuum distilled at cold temperatures with clean, balanced results. The poitín itself is also very good, as is the Rostrevor Ruby Gin, which gives a herbal twist to its red fruits.
Served at top restaurants in the UK and Ireland, including London’s Core By Clare Smyth and Neven Maguire’s MacNean Restaurant, Mourne Dew will appear in selected Spar, Eurospar, Mace and Londis stores in the new year. Its website offers a personalised labelling service, while its Mourne Dew Miniature Gift Pack of four 5cl bottles (£18) allows you handpick your own combination for a cute stocking filler.
Today’s selection also includes a gorgeous new elderflower liqueur and a modern classic from Dublin’s Bar 1661.
Read more
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Bottles of the week
Mourne Dew The Pooka Irish Poitín Hazelnut Liqueur, 35pc, €45
This poitín-forward liqueur is very well balanced, with intense aromas of roasted hazelnut (think mainlining Nutella) leading to a lovely purity of nut character on the palate, which is very rich without being overly sweet, more boozy than luscious. Only available online for now, but due for wider distribution in the new year (see above). This would be lovely served straight from the freezer, or over ice, or as a twist in an espresso martini. Celtic Whiskey Shop, irishmalts.com, masterofmalt.com, mournedew.com
Foxes Bow Irish Whiskey, 43pc, €40
This first release from Foxes Bow is a blended whiskey, triple distilled and aged in bourbon casks at Great Northern Distillery and finished in a mix of rye casks to bring a frisky spice and sherry casks to ramp up the warmth and red fruit character. Sip paired with nutty tangy cheese or mix with Poachers ginger ale.Tesco, Celtic Whiskey Shop and other independents, irishmalts.com
Hennessy Very Special (VS) Founder’s Edition, 40pc, €41
This commemorative edition is a good excuse to revisit an old classic, with its warming oak spice aromas (think nutmeg and orange peel, with hints of clove and cinnamon) and flavours of apple and sweet spices with notes of nutshell and oaky on the finish. (€28 in Dunnes until December 10). Dunnes Stores, SuperValu and independents
Richmount Elderflower Liqueur, 20pc, €30
Very pure, pretty and clean, capturing the top-note aromas of frothy floral sprays in summer hedgerows, with subtle honeyed citrus character on the finish. Produced by David and Martina Burns with elderflowers from their own Longford orchards, sip well-chilled or serve in a gin spritzer. Bradleys, Celtic Whiskey Shop
Bar 1661’s Belfast Coffee, €30 (70cl)
Dave Mulligan and his Bar 1661 team are pioneers of the poitín revolution, and their signature Belfast Coffee presents this old spirit in a new way, giving the classic Irish coffee a twist with a cold-brew base — and poitín, of course. Their webshop is also selling tickets to in-person 28-course cocktail tasting experiences.
